5-star Vols commit Nico Iamaleava sees his final recruiting ranking change
2023 five-star Tennessee Vols commit Nico Iamaleava saw his final recruiting ranking (before joining the UT football program) change on Tuesday. 247Sports released their updated recruiting rankings on Tuesday and Iamaleava was ranked as the No. 2 overall player in the 2023 recruiting class. The California native was previously ranked as the No. 3 overall […]
2023 five-star Tennessee Vols commit Nico Iamaleava saw his final recruiting ranking (before joining the UT football program) change on Tuesday.
247Sports released their updated recruiting rankings on Tuesday and Iamaleava was ranked as the No. 2 overall player in the 2023 recruiting class.
The California native was previously ranked as the No. 3 overall player.
Iamaleava is ranked behind five-star Texas commit Arch Manning.
Five-star Oregon commit Dante Moore, who is ranked No. 3 overall in the new rankings, was previously ranked No. 2 ahead of Iamaleava.
"This was another massive debate and what it came down to is projection over production," said 247Sports recruiting analyst Andrew Ivins. "Dante Moore, Nico, different analysts going back and forth about what they liked. Just with Nico, it's the upside. He is 6-foot-5. He has a rocket launcher for an arm."
"What really led to us making this move was the fact that he improved here as a senior out in California," added Ivins. "He doesn't have the sample size as Dante Moore. But when we take that small volume and what we've seen from him in these controlled settings and then again on Friday nights, we like it a lot. We feel good about this move….he's a freak athlete. He could probably play college volleyball if he wanted to. He can make all the throws. Once he gets coached up, watch out because there's a ton of potential there."
Iamaleava is expected to join Tennessee for their Orange Bowl practices this month, giving the dynamic quarterback a head start on prepping for the 2023 season.
The expectation is that Joe Milton will be the Vols' starting quarterback next season, but Iamaleava certainly has the talent to make the quarterback battle interesting in the spring.
Tayven Jackson, a true freshman in 2022, will also be a factor in the Vols' quarterback battle next season.
Featured image via Brianna Paciorka/News Sentinel / USA TODAY NETWORK
